Award: The Day Henry Met wins at Pulcinella

Over the weekend the Cartoons on the Bay festival took place in Venice, Italy. Part of the festival is the annual Pulcinella Awards, a celebration of the best in European animation. 11 awards were given out with Irish animation The Day Henry Met being bestowed the highest honour of Best European Work.

The Day Henry Met comes from Dublin based studio Wiggleywoo, and is the story of 4-year-old Henry, who meets a new person, animal, or object every day. The series has already sold to RTÉjr, Nick Jr, TVO Canada, YLE Finland, and SVT Sweden.

Three animated series, The Day Henry Met, Punky, and Bing, had been nominated for awards, as well as animated short Somewhere Down the Line.

The full list of winners with jury comments:

TV Series for Preschool – Friends (Amigos)
For helping kids to open their mind and face the others respecting their own emotions.

TV Series for Preschool – The Owl & Co (La Choutte & Cie)
A simple story able to surprise kids and family with funny characters, good animation and essential dialogues.

TV Series for Tweens – Gypsy Tales (Cigánymesék)
For bringing new life to traditional tales balancing traditional animation and new technology.

Interactive Animation – Evolve
For using animation to give a great visual impact and make fantasy become true.

Educational and Social Issues Work – Broken Branches (Anafim Shvurim)
To let old memories of Diaspora come again to life telling a true and difficult story in a very touching way

TV Pilot – Ivan And The Wolf (Iwan Und Der Wolf)
For using colours in an intense way that gives a fantastic dimension from the very beginning of the story.

Advertising and Promotional Work – Clean Up The World (Puliamo Il Mondo)
For promoting an ecological approach through an original mix of documentary and animation even with a low budget.

Short Film – Autumn Leaves (Premier Automne)
This poetic film is a complete creation in both visual and sound.

Best European Work – The Day Henry Met
A fresh design for this educative film but still very entertaining.

Best Character – Tereza from Boles
For the plastic way the puppet was structured for acting, and how the animator succeeded to bring the character to life.

Best Music – Gypsy Tales (Cigánymesék)
The jury was conquered by this traditional music that perfectly fits the rhythm of the film.